diff --git a/oml/item/api.py b/oml/item/api.py
index 04b7889..39ca9a8 100644
--- a/oml/item/api.py
+++ b/oml/item/api.py
@@ -153,7 +153,6 @@ def remove(data):
             id
         }
     '''
-    logger.debug('remove files %s', data)
     if 'ids' in data and data['ids']:
         for i in models.Item.query.filter(models.Item.id.in_(data['ids'])):
             i.remove_file()
@@ -229,7 +228,6 @@ def findMetadata(data):
     response = {
         'items': []
     }
-    logger.debug('findMetadata %s', data)
     key = ','.join(sorted(data))
     if key == 'isbn':
         r = meta.lookup(key, data[key])
@@ -267,7 +265,6 @@ def getMetadata(data):
         }
         key can be one of the supported identifiers: isbn10, isbn13, oclc, olid,...
     '''
-    logger.debug('getMetadata %s', data)
     if 'includeEdits' in data:
         include_edits = data.pop('includeEdits')
     else:
@@ -340,6 +337,24 @@ def scan(data):
     return {}
 actions.register(scan, cache=False)
 
+def export(data):
+    '''
+        takes {
+            path absolute path to import
+            list listename (add new items to this list)
+            mode add|replace
+        }
+    '''
+    import user.models
+    l = user.models.List.get(':' + data['list'])
+    if l:
+        data['list'] = ':' + data['list']
+        state.tasks.queue('export', data)
+        response = {'status': 'ok'}
+    else:
+        response = {'status': 'invalid list'}
+    return response
+actions.register(export, cache=False)
 
 def _import(data):
     '''
@@ -349,7 +364,6 @@ def _import(data):
             mode copy|move
         }
     '''
-    logger.debug('api.import %s', data)
     state.tasks.queue('import', data)
     return {}
 actions.register(_import, 'import', cache=False)
diff --git a/oml/tasks.py b/oml/tasks.py
index ba5bfc1..d08b0ab 100644
--- a/oml/tasks.py
+++ b/oml/tasks.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ from queue import Queue
 from threading import Thread
 
 from websocket import trigger_event
-import state
 
 import logging
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -23,6 +22,7 @@ class Tasks(Thread):
 
     def run(self):
         import item.scan
+        from user.models import List
         while self.connected:
             m = self.q.get()
             if m:
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ class Tasks(Thread):
                         trigger_event('pong', data)
                     elif action == 'import':
                         item.scan.run_import(data)
+                    elif action == 'export':
+                        List.export(data)
                     elif action == 'scan':
                         item.scan.run_scan()
                     else:
diff --git a/oml/user/models.py b/oml/user/models.py
index c58e96c..acd4604 100644
--- a/oml/user/models.py
+++ b/oml/user/models.py
@@ -3,7 +3,10 @@
 from datetime import datetime
 import json
 import hashlib
+import os
+import shutil
 
+import ox
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 
 from changelog import Changelog
@@ -13,6 +16,8 @@ import json_pickler
 import settings
 import state
 import utils
+import media
+from websocket import trigger_event
 
 import logging
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -323,6 +328,87 @@ class List(db.Model):
         state.db.session.add(self)
         state.db.session.commit()
 
+    def create_symlinks(self):
+        pass
+
+    @classmethod
+    def export(cls, data):
+        with db.session():
+            self = cls.get(data['list'])
+            if not self:
+                return
+            mode = data.get('mode')
+            prefix = data.get('path')
+            if mode not in ('add', 'replace'):
+                logger.debug('invalid mode %s', mode)
+                return
+            if not prefix or prefix == '/':
+                logger.debug('invalid export path %s', prefix)
+                trigger_event('activity', {
+                    'activity': 'export',
+                    'path': prefix,
+                    'progress': [0, 0],
+                    'status': {'code': 404, 'text': 'invalid export path'}
+                })
+                return
+            root = prefix
+            while not os.path.exists(root) and root != '/':
+                root = os.path.dirname(root)
+            if not os.access(root, os.W_OK):
+                logger.debug('can not write to %s', root)
+                trigger_event('activity', {
+                    'activity': 'export',
+                    'path': prefix,
+                    'progress': [0, 0],
+                    'path': prefix,
+                    'status': {'code': 404, 'text': 'permission denied'}
+                })
+                return
+            if os.path.exists(prefix):
+                existing_files = set(
+                    os.path.join(root, f) for root, _, files in os.walk(prefix) for f in files
+                )
+            else:
+                existing_files = set()
+            new_files = set()
+            count = self.get_items().count()
+            n = 1
+            for i in self.get_items():
+                if i.files.all():
+                    f = i.files.all()[0]
+                    source = f.fullpath()
+                    target = os.path.join(prefix, f.path)
+                    if mode == 'add':
+                        p = 1
+                        parts = target.rsplit('.', 1)
+                        while os.path.exists(target) and media.get_id(target) != f.sha1:
+                            target = '.'.join([parts[0], f.sha1[:p], parts[1]])
+                            p += 1
+                    ox.makedirs(os.path.dirname(target))
+                    if os.path.exists(target):
+                        if mode == 'replace' and media.get_id(target) != f.sha1:
+                            os.unlink(target)
+                            shutil.copy2(source, target)
+                    else:
+                        shutil.copy2(source, target)
+                    new_files.add(target)
+                trigger_event('activity', {
+                    'activity': 'export',
+                    'path': prefix,
+                    'progress': [n, count]
+                })
+                n += 1
+            if mode == 'replace':
+                for f in list(existing_files - new_files):
+                    os.unlink(f)
+                utils.remove_empty_folders(prefix)
+            trigger_event('activity', {
+                'activity': 'export',
+                'progress': [count, count],
+                'path': prefix,
+                'status': {'code': 200, 'text': ''},
+            })
+
 class Metadata(db.Model):
     __tablename__ = 'user_metadata'
 
diff --git a/static/js/importExportDialog.js b/static/js/importExportDialog.js
index b654ed9..1480f8b 100644
--- a/static/js/importExportDialog.js
+++ b/static/js/importExportDialog.js
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ oml.ui.importExportDialog = function() {
                         );
                     $innerPanel.replaceElement(0,
                         renderActivity({
-                            activity: 'import',
+                            activity: selected,
                             path: data.path,
                             progress: [0, 0]
                         })
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ oml.ui.importExportDialog = function() {
                         if (result) {
                             data.list = result.data.id
                         }
-                        oml.api.import({
+                        oml.api[selected]({
                             list: data.list,
                             mode: data.mode,
                             path: data.path,